After gathering for its second meeting of the year in London last week, the Formula 1 Commission has defined key changes to the Sporting and the Technical Regulation of Formula One for next year and beyond.
Following its introduction in 2021, the sprint race weekend format has been carried over to this year with three grand prix weekends incorporating the 100km dash with no mandatory pit stops and drivers racing flat-out to the chequered flag. Last weekend’s Emilia Romagna Grand Prix saw the first sprint event this year with the Red Bull Ring and Interlagos set to involve the 100km race lasting around 25-30 minutes.
Formula One intends to implement an extension to six Sprint events for the 2023 season, running with the same format as in 2022.
The sport also plans to mandate the use of the helmet cam for all drivers from 2023 onwards after trialling the latest generation of helmet cameras over recent events. The new cameras were first tried out last season and have proved to be successful as they provide a brilliant glimpse of what it’s like to be in an F1 car from a driver’s perspective.
The sport will therefore update the 2023 Technical Regulations, mandating the use of these helmet cameras for all drivers from 2023 onwards.
The best view of @COTA, from @OconEsteban‘s helmet cam! 🍿
The speed, the sound, the scenery, everything about this is brilliant!#USGP 🇺🇸 #F1
— Formula 1 (@F1) October 22, 2021
The 2023 F1 season will also see a tweak to the rules regarding the tyre allocation. The tweaked rule will reduce the number of sets available to drivers from 13 to 11 at two events in 2023.
A statement from the governing body stated that: “This will be done to evaluate the impact of the reduction in tyre allocation on track-running, with the overall intention to move to more sustainable use of tyres in the future.”
Furthermore, the Comission has also defined the key objectives of the next generation Formula 1 Power Unit set to be introduced from 2026. The four key pillars of the new generation power units are as follows:
Maintaining the spectacle – the 2026 Power Unit will have similar performance to the current designs, utilising high-power, high-revving V6 internal combustion engines and avoiding excessive performance differentiation to allow for improved raceability.
Environmental sustainability – the 2026 Power Unit will include an increase in the deployment of electrical power to up to 50%, and utilise a 100% sustainable fuel.
Financial Sustainability – work is ongoing to define, consolidate and improve Financial Regulations regarding the Power Units, and the aim is to reduce the overall costs for competitors whilst retaining the cutting-edge technological showcase that is at the core of Formula 1.
Attractive to new Power Unit Manufacturers – the regulations are intended to make it possible and attractive for newcomers to join the sport at a competitive level.
The proposals will be now assessed by the World Motor Sport Council before they are added to the Sporting and Technical Regulations.